| name | enable-caretaker |
| description | Turn on the weekly Caretaker, a BETA feature that is off by default. Use ONLY when the user explicitly asks about the Caretaker or about enabling it -- never suggest, mention, or enable it proactively. |
| metadata | {"author":"imbue"} |
Enable the Caretaker (BETA)
The Caretaker is a beta feature, off by default: a background agent that
checks this workspace about once a week -- crashed services, fresh errors in
the logs, a filling disk, memory trouble -- and opens a chat tab only when
there is something to say. Off by default means literally nothing runs: no
cron entry exists until this skill creates it.
Before enabling it, make sure the user genuinely wants it: say plainly that
it is a beta feature and they should not expect it to be polished or optimal,
and get their explicit confirmation. Only proceed on a clear yes.
To enable, write the Caretaker's schedule entry (durably, then live) and
clear any stale job state:
mkdir -p /home/user/workspace/data/.state/cron.d
printf '%s\n' '* * * * * root /home/user/workspace/system/libs/automations/with_agent_env.sh /home/user/workspace/system/libs/automations/run_job.sh caretaker --every 7d --at 3 bash /home/user/workspace/system/services/caretaker/caretaker_check.sh >> /var/log/supervisor/caretaker-job.log 2>&1' > /home/user/workspace/data/.state/cron.d/minds-caretaker
install -m 0644 /home/user/workspace/data/.state/cron.d/minds-caretaker /etc/cron.d/minds-caretaker
rm -rf /home/user/workspace/data/.state/jobs/caretaker
This is the standard recurring-job pattern from the manage-scheduled-tasks
skill: the every-minute tick is run_job.sh (weekly, due hour 3, catch-up
after downtime, and completion-tracked -- a check that fails or is killed
mid-run is retried within minutes instead of silently losing the week), and
caretaker_check.sh is the deterministic check that wakes the agent only
when it finds something. The copy under data/.state/cron.d/ is the durable
switch (the bootstrap reinstalls it at each boot, so it survives container
recreation); the install makes it live immediately. Cron picks the file up
within a minute, so the Caretaker introduces itself shortly afterwards
(within a minute or two during the day; at about 3 AM if enabled in the
small hours), then checks weekly.
To switch it off again, use the disable-caretaker skill (remove both copies
of the entry); its notes and permissions stay put for a later re-enable.
